• Khabib Nurmagomedov at the UFC Open Workout session held at The Yas Mall in Abu Dhabi in the build-up to UFC 242 last September. All photos by Pawan Singh / The National
    Khabib Nurmagomedov at the UFC Open Workout session held at The Yas Mall in Abu Dhabi in the build-up to UFC 242 last September. All photos by Pawan Singh / The National
  • Nurmagomedov during the UFC Open Workout session.
    Nurmagomedov during the UFC Open Workout session.
  • Islam Makhachev during the UFC Open Workout session.
    Islam Makhachev during the UFC Open Workout session.
  • Edson Barboza during the UFC Open Workout session.
    Edson Barboza during the UFC Open Workout session.
  • Dustin Poirier during the UFC Open Workout session.
    Dustin Poirier during the UFC Open Workout session.
  • Poirier during the UFC Open Workout session.
    Poirier during the UFC Open Workout session.
  • Paul Felder during the UFC Open Workout session.
    Paul Felder during the UFC Open Workout session.
  • Felder during the UFC Open Workout session.
    Felder during the UFC Open Workout session.
  • Joanne Calderwood during the UFC Open Workout session.
    Joanne Calderwood during the UFC Open Workout session.
  • Calderwood during the UFC Open Workout session.
    Calderwood during the UFC Open Workout session.
  • Fans of Khabib Nurmagomedov during the UFC Open Workout session.
    Fans of Khabib Nurmagomedov during the UFC Open Workout session.

Other Sport

Joanne Calderwood 'proud and excited' to be part of UFC 242 in Abu Dhabi

The Scottish flyweight will be one of four women to fight on the undercard of Khabib Nurmagomedov v Dustin Poirier on Saturday

Press Association

September 04, 2019

  • English
  • Arabic

Scottish flyweight Joanne Calderwood is shutting a prospective title shot out of her mind as she prepares to return on the UFC 242 bill in Abu Dhabi on Saturday.

Rebounding from a loss to Katlyn Chookagian in her last bout in June, Calderwood will face Andrea Lee on the undercard of the high-profile return of lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov at The Arena on Yas Island.

Unbeaten Nurmagomedov is set to face Dustin Poirier in his first bout since being fined and banned following the chaotic aftermath to his win over Conor McGregor in October last year.

The 32-year-old Calderwood is currently ranked fifth in the women's world flyweight rankings but is intent on not looking ahead which she admits cost her in her points loss to Chookagian last time out.

Calderwood told the PA news agency: "I put too much pressure on myself before my last fight and I've learned that it doesn't really matter - you just have to win each battle to get where you want to go.

"I feel like concentrating on becoming UFC champion can take your mind away from where you want to go. Now I am a lot stronger mentally and a lot clearer about my focus ahead of this bout."

Lee comes into the contest on the back of three straight wins and has made it clear she intends to claim the victory which she hopes would lead to a shot at current champion Valentina Shevchenko.

But Calderwood, who previously campaigned as a straw-weight before enduring weight issues after moving up, believes she is physically much stronger and approaching the peak of her career.

"I feel a big difference because I have no issues with making the weight any more," added Calderwood. "Now I can take my mind off the fight and block out all the issues that come with it."

Calderwood is one of four women who will make history at UFC 242 as Abu Dhabi hosts its first female bouts for the world's leading mixed martial arts organisation. Also on the card is Canada's Sarah Moras and Georgia's Liana Jojua who meet in a bantamweight clash.

And while Nurmagomedov will inevitably grab most of the headlines on Saturday, Calderwood said she was happy to be part of a historic night in the capital.

"I definitely feel an increase in support and I am grateful to be part of an organisation that is going somewhere," Calderwood said.

"I'm pleased to be on the undercard of such an amazing fighter - I respect every fighter, especially the greats.

"I'm proud and excited and I can't wait to get out there and continue to represent Scotland."

Florida: The critical Sunshine State

Though mostly conservative, Florida is usually always “close” in presidential elections. In most elections, the candidate that wins the Sunshine State almost always wins the election, as evidenced in 2016 when Trump took Florida, a state which has not had a democratic governor since 1991. 

Joe Biden’s campaign has spent $100 million there to turn things around, understandable given the state’s crucial 29 electoral votes.

In 2016, Mr Trump’s democratic rival Hillary Clinton paid frequent visits to Florida though analysts concluded that she failed to appeal towards middle-class voters, whom Barack Obama won over in the previous election.